Vocabulary 1 Flashcards
Alliteration
The repetition of sounds, especially initial condos at sounds in two or more neighboring words
Allegory
The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represents an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.
Allusion
A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. They can be historical, literary , religious, topical, or mythical
Ambuity
The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage
Analogy
A similarity or comparison between two different things of the relationship between them.
Antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.
Antithesis
The opposition or contrast of ideas, the direct opposite
Aphorism
A terse statement of known authorship which expresses general truth of moral principle
Apostrophe
A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction such as liberty or love
Atmosphere
The emotional nod created by the entirety of literary work established by setting and author’s choice of objects that are described
Caricature
A verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person’s distinctive physical features or other characteristics
Clause
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb
Colloquial/colloquialism
The use of slang or formalities in speech or writing, not generally acceptable
Conceit
A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor of surprising analogy between dissimilar objects
Connotation
The non-literal, associative meaning of a word( the implied , suggested meaning
Denotation
The strict, literal, dictionary of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color
Diction
From the Greek, didactic literally meaning teaching. Didactic words have the aim of teaching
Euphemism
Greek for good speech. More agreeable of less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept
Extended metaphor
A metaphor developed a thread length occurring frequently in or throughout a work
Figurative language
Writing or speech that is not intended to have a literal meaning
Figure of speech
A device used to produce figurative language
Generic conventions
This term describes traditions for each genre. Define a genre
Genre
The major category into which a literary work fits
Homily
A sermon, but more informally can be a serious talk, speech or lecture usually pertaining to spiritual advice
Hyperbole
A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement
Imagery
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions
Inference/infer
To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented
Invective
An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong abusive language
Irony/ironic
Verbal
Situational
Dramatic
The constraint between what is stated and what it really meant
Verbal-when the words literally state the opposite of the writer’s meaning
Situational-when events turn out opposite of what is expected
Dramatic-when the facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to reader, audience, or other character
Litotes
A form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite
Loose sentence/non-periodic sentence
A type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses
Metaphor
A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for another
Metonymy
A term in Greek for changed label or substitute name, a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it
Mood
The prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting,tone, and events can affect mood
Narrative
The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events
Onomatopoeia
A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words
Oxymoron
Greek for pointedly foolish. A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox
Paradox
A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but has some degree of truth
Parallelism
Grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity
Anaphora
A sub-type of parallelism, when the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences
Parody
A work the closely imitates the style or content of another with aim of comic effect and or ridicule
Pedantic
An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish. Show off words
Periodic sentence
A sentence that presents it’s central meaning in a main clause at the end
Personification
Giving human like qualities to nonhuman things
Point of view
The perspective from which a story is told
Prose
Fiction and nonfictional including all it’s forms. Normal writing not poetry
Repetition
The duplication wither exact or approximate of an element of language
Rhetoric
From Greek for orator , describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively
Rhetorical modes
The flexible term describes the variety, the conventions and the purpose of the major kinds of writing
Sarcasm
Greek for to tear flesh. Bitter or caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something
Satire
A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule
Semantics
The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning or words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another
Style
- An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending all literary devices
- Classification of authors To a group and comparison of an author to similar authors
Subject complement
The word(with any accompanying phrases) or Clause that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either renaming it or describing it
Subordinate clause
Contains both a subject and a verb. It depends on the main clause to complete its meaning
Syllogism
Greek for reckoning together. A deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion
Symbol/symbolism
Generally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else
Synecdoche
A figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole or the whole is used to represent a part
Synesthesia
When one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another
Syntax
The way the author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Never one word
Theme
The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life
Thesis
The thesis statement is the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author’s opinion, purpose, meaning, or position
Tone
Describe the author’s attitude toward his material, the audience, or both
Transition
A word or phrase that links different ideas
Understatement
The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is
Wit
In modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. Humorous but intellectual
